Jide “Jandor” Adediran In Early Bid For Second Shot At Lagos Guber Seat…, The Hurdles Before Him
Adding to his political hurdles, his appeal as a reformer and a new face to sidelined figures within his party and the larger Lagos political scene has been overshadowed by allegations tied to his actions during the last election
Jide Adediran, known as “Jandor,” the face of a fresh appeal within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), is seeking another run for the gubernatorial position of Lagos State.
The 46-year-old, who embodies bold ambition in the face of the older generation’s unrelenting grip on power, has already begun his bid for a second attempt, but he faces familiar challenges.
Insiders disclose that Adediran, the convener of the Lagos4Lagos Movement, which mounted a gubernatorial campaign that occasionally intimidated the formidable All Progressives Congress (APC) ruling party, eventually losing momentum just before the 2023 governorship election is still considered an outsider by more established political figures within and outside the Lagos PDP.
Jandor broke away from the APC to join the PDP, and his political opponents within the party continue to hold this against him, citing “trust issues.”
Adding to his political hurdles, his appeal as a reformer and a new face to sidelined figures within his party and the larger Lagos political scene has been overshadowed by allegations tied to his actions during the last election. These allegations stem from claims that he imposed his will after becoming the PDP candidate for the 2023 gubernatorial election.
Sources indicate that, while he remains strong in his aggressive grassroots canvassing and still holds some appeal as a new face in politics, his lack of “institutional experience” in dealing with political veterans has been highlighted. This was evident in the sensational backing of the younger and less experienced Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party’s gubernatorial candidate, by PDP stalwart Olabode George barely days before the last general election.
George, a strong voice in the PDP at the national level, shifted his support after his relationship with Jandor soured over the latter’s campaign management. Seye Dairo, Jandor’s campaign Director-General, followed suit just hours before the election, further worsening his standing with established politicians.
In the 2023 election, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the APC won with 762,134 votes (65.95%), while Rhodes-Vivour secured 313,329 votes (27.03%). Adediran, despite his efforts, garnered just 62,449 votes (5.40%).
Although Jandor ran an intensive campaign, positioning himself early as the main opposition, Rhodes-Vivour outperformed him in the final stretch of the 2023 gubernatorial race. This was driven by an explosive mix of ethnic sentiments and political dynamics, compounded by Jandor’s internal troubles, most notably the “defection” of his campaign director to support another candidate just before the election.
Despite these setbacks, many believe Jandor still has a chance in his second bid by building on what worked in his first attempt and addressing the factors that derailed his previous campaign.
“That he became popular enough to force the government to respond to his campaign before things went awry is a strong indication of the potential he has,” said one observer. …Continue Reading
Credit: SocietyNow NG
